Std/Hiv testing and symptom questions.

Hello, I asked a question on this site a few weeks ago, although I was satisfied with the answer i received I had a few more concerns. the link will send you to my previous question.
http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/Urology/messages/C31293-1.html

I'll quickly breifly discuss the incident. unprotected vaginal intercourse for 1 minute with no ejaculation other then pre-***. on Jan 3rd, 2005. Om Jan 10th ,05 protected vaginal sex, with same person, then I got tested for all std's including hiv on the 17th of Jan. all negative, doctors told me to stop worrying. a few weeks ago started to feel this weird sensation in my throat when I swallow kind of if there is a ball stuck in my throat, I freaked out and started doing some research on the internet and found some strress related disorder called Globus Hystericus, or dysphagia heres a link to describe it a little.

http://www.voicedoctor.net/therapy/cps.html

Got retested on Feb 7th for Hiv, 35 days after unprotected sex, and 28 days after protected sex, negative. My doctor once again told me to stop worrying, I didnt catch anything. He said that my lymph nodes in my throat were a little swolen but that was due to my smoking. on feb 9th had one occurance of what I thought was some blood in stool. I didnt think much of it because I had some really bad chinease food that day, and drank maybe 15 glasses of tea, plus I had anxiety so I figured that caused it. It hasn't happened since just that one occurance. On Feb 16th felt a little burning sensation in armpits, could this be because of sweat, I did not wash my work shirt for one month? the senasation is on and off. Other than that I have not really felt any other symptoms. Its going on 8 weeks now and I have not gotten sick, which is good.

I've read alot about the validity of Hiv testing and I am aware of the window period, and know that the average of people who seroconvert is 25 days.

1.Given all that information would you say that my negative 35 day HIv test is encouraging and most likely conclusive? I will be taking another test in 2 weeks which would make it 65-70 days, would that test be conclusive? what would you say my percentage is of being negative, after testing negative afte 35 days if that makes any sense?

2. Are my symptoms at all suggestive of ars or hiv disease, or would you related more so to stress and anxiety, given that I am negative so far? Could it be that I contracted some other std's like gonnereah, chlamydia, sypillys?

3. Do you think that I'm making to big of deal about all this, should I stop stressing, as this could be my problem?

4. Can smoking of caused this feeling in my throat, all of a sudden?

Sorry for the lengthy question but I just needed some advice, if you could please give me as much information as you can, it would really help me out alot.

Thank you so much for your patiance.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) Studies have shown that the "false negative rate" in a high-prevalence population to be 0.3 percent, and in a low-prevalence population to be 0.001 percent.  If the multiple HIV tests you have had repeatedly come up negative, then it is highly unlikely that you have HIV.

2) The symptoms can be due to HIV, but stress and anxiety are more likely.  STDs can also present this way, but again would be unlikely if the tests have been negative.

3) I can't answer that question without examining you.

4) Smoking is possible and I would always advise stopping.  Other possibilities would be GERD or chronic post-nasal drip.  You can consider an ENT referral for further evaluation.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b